Parent Funds advance Loaned Technology program

Through the generous support of parents of alumni and current students, the UBC Okanagan Library has been able to expand its loaned technology program. Laptops made available through this program support students who do not have access to mobile technologies, helping advance their research and learning.

For many students, access to technology means access to UBC Library’s expansive resources and collections. Time and again, Library staff get requests from students for additional computers. Given space limitations in the Library at UBC’s Okanagan campus, a laptop loan program plays a significant role in expanding computing capacity.

In the past year, the Library has added digital cameras to their collection of materials available for loan, thanks to the Parent’s A+ Library Fund, whose Okanagan-specific contributions are currently at just over $21,300.

The UBC Vancouver’s Parent Innovation fund also supports the needs of students, providing them with a suite of learning tools to position them for academic success. The Parent Campaign for both UBCO and UBC Vancouver has grown each year. Over $90,000 has been raised through this campaign since 2007.

Moving forward, part of the fund will be used to replenish laptops and related technology. However, as Heather Berringer, Deputy Chief Librarian, points out, the Library is also prepared for emerging technologies and teaching methods. “We plan to engage in a student consultation process and needs assessment over the course of the coming months to determine what students are doing with the technology they borrow, “ says Berringer, Deputy Chief Librarian, adding that this will help inform the Library’s decision on future acquisitions.

Cathy Hawkins, Library Services Assistant at UBC Okanagan Library, has a daughter attending UBC Okanagan, and a son who recently graduated. “The bottom line is that the laptops are one of the most valuable assets the Library holds for situations when students cannot find an available workstation, which happens more frequently with the rise of enrolment,” she says, noting that student usage increases when their personal computers break down or if they don’t have any laptops.